There's something about a fairy tale that brings out the kid in me. As a child, I loved to know that all stories end happily ever after. The woman finds her perfect man, the bad guys are suitably punished and the good guys rewarded. Now that I'm all grown up I know this doesn't actually happen and there are many monsters that roam free in the real world . Maybe that's why I especially like to see good triumph over evil in the movies.

Jack the Giant Slayer follows the fairy tale, sort of. Jack ends up with magical beans that he's supposed to deliver to a group of monks who protect them. The story behind the beans is mysterious and magical, right up my alley. One bean accidentally falls under Jack's house and gets wet, a big no-no. A huge stalk grows, taking Jack, his house and an unexpected visitor, a princess, along with it.

The princess Isabel is out seeking adventure (a woman after my own heart!) and accidentally winds up at Jack's house. She gets more than she bargained for when she's whisked away to the land of the giants.

There are some very cool additions to the original story. Along with magic beans there's a crown with great power, monks with a mission, witty conversation and of course, a sweet love story with a plucky heroine. I like that although Jack is a simple farm lad, he uses his wits to get out of trouble and rescue his friends. There's plenty of action, the plot is believable (if you believe in magic which of course you do!) and the love story is cute. There are several bad guys, all with different agendas, to keep us on our toes.